Fredrick fisher



Ltnirfi gunst @nicht (twine.

Letters Patent No. 92,296, :lated July 6, 1869.

IMPRQVEMENT MARLINE-SPIKES.

f The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent: and makiugpart of the sam To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDRIQK FISHER, of Rockland, in the county of Knox, and State of Maine, have invented certain Improvements in Marline-Spikes, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of av marline-spike, of my improved construction.,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section, through the centre ofthe same.

Figure 3 villustrates the manner of using my improved marline-spikc.

Marline-spikes employed in splicing rope have heretofore been made solid (with or without an enlarged head) from a single piece of metal.

This construction, however, is objectionable for the following reasons: f

When the point of the marline-spike has been with drawn from the opening which it has formed between i the strands where the splice is to be made, the opening is apt to close before the end of the splicing-strand can be inserted, owing to the strong tendency exerted by the strands to recover their original twisted position, and it frequently happens that the opening has to be re-formcd several times before the splicingstrand can be successfully interlaced and laid as desired.

Again, the end of the strand to be inserted within the opening, in the majority of cases, requires to be whipperh in order to avoid the tagging or unravelling ofthe libres; otherwise it would be extremely ditlicult to introduce it within the opening between the strands of the rope. y

To avoid the above-mentioned difficulties is thc object of my invention, which consists in a niarliner spike having the whole or a portion of its length made hollow for the reception of the end of the strand to be spliced between the strands of the main or standing portion of the rope, the marline-spike being provided, or not, with a separate head, which may be readily removed, so as 'to allow the remaining or chief portion of the marline-spike, with the end of the strand in its hollow portion, to be pushed entirely through the Opening; thc head, if one be emploved, being provided with a hole for the passage of a lanyard, by which the marline-spikeis suspended from the neck ofthe person using it.

To enable others skilled in the art ,to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it ont.

A represents my improved marline-spike, the interior, a, of which, from 4 to 5, is made hollow, as seen in tig. 2, and is provided with a screw-thread, 6, near its top, for the reception of a corresponding thread on the lower portion of a removable head, b, having a hole for the passage of theordinary lanyard, by which-the marlinc-spike is suspended or carried.

These marline-spikes may be made Aof various sizes, to adapt them to ropes and lines of different diameters.

When 'the operation of splicing is to be performed, the pointof the marlinc-spike is inserted between the strands, and pressure is applied to the head b until theinstruxncnt is nearly forced through the opening, as seen in tig. 3, when the head may be removed, and the e'nd ofthe strand c' to be inserted, is laid into the hollow portion a, after which the instrument is drawn through, carrying the strand cwith it into the desired position, and I ain thus enabled to avoid the loss of 'time involved in whipping the 'strand and frequently making the opening in the rope through which it is tobe passed.

` By making my marline-spike hollow for a portion or the whole of its length, the quantity of metaltherein is materially diminished, consequently rendering it lighter and more convenient to handle, and also.

reducing its cost. l It is-cvident that any suitable-catch or fastening may bc employed, instead of a screw, for securing the head in place, and an opening for the lauyard may be made through the top of the head, instead of through its side, in which case, the end of the lanyard, after heilig passed through is knotted, or a swivelling eye may be attached to the top of thc head, to prevent the lanyard from being twisted. by the revolutions of the marline-spike.

Claim.

' removable head, substantially as and for the purpose described FRnnRIoK FisHnR.

Titnesses N. W. STEARNS, W. -J`. CAMBRIDGE. 

